2025 Draft prospects - thread 2

[Jvaughn]

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I am more interested in Yaxel after this and his combine measurements.

Whoah didn't expect Yaxel to play. Definitely got something to prove it seems.

[kodo]

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Gotta do our due dilligence. But I do not want Sorber unless it’s because we traded back to pick 20-30 and got another first round pick in the future.

Well thank goodness we're looking at centers at all instead of the plan being on extending Vuc another 3 years.

[LateNight]

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I am more interested in Yaxel after this and his combine measurements.

Whoah didn't expect Yaxel to play. Definitely got something to prove it seems.

Doesn’t mean much, but a lot of those Pettiford highlights are against Yaxel.

Some nice footage of people scoring over Yaxel closing out and him getting caught on screens

[2weekswithpay]

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[2weekswithpay]

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[Muzbar]

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Yuck.

Please let some other team reach on him.

[Muzbar]

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Oh, yes please.

[BullsSD]

I think my top "realistic" pick is Demin. His skill level just jumps out and I can see him easily fitting in on this team. I like KJ a lot too, but I'm concerned about the overlap between him, Giddey, and White. Obviously that's not a reason to not draft him, but Giddey specifically is our best young piece.

Totally disagree. Demin and Giddey can’t coexist. They are the same player. Might be the only player we literally cannot draft.

Top Tier: Maluach/Queen
Mid Tier: Fleming/Bryant/Newell/Wolf
Bottom Tier: Sorber/CMB/Essengue

Quite a few people had this reaction, so I'll clarify my why I think they can. To me, I suspect Demin will settle in as a wing/point forward in the NBA. I don't see him being the primary facilitator, but more as a secondary one. I think there's something really fun about a lineup consisting of Giddey, Demin, and Matas -- three very tall, lengthy, versatile, and skilled guys. I like the potential ball movement, but what I really like is that it's three guys that just have a feel for the game. I think that's what you want in "Billy Ball". A free-flowing fast pace offense needs guys who are smart passers, and can create fast breaks and Giddey/Demin do that both with their passing and with their disruptive length. I love the mismatch potential of two jumbo guards in the backcourt. I also thought this team looked really good in the brief moments we saw Giddey and Ball together. So I do think they can co-exist.

Fair analysis, albeit flawed in my humble opinion.

2 major concerns:

1: Defense from a Giddey/Coby/Demin line up
2. Sacrificing both PG and SF 3 point shooting is too much in today’s age. I’m OK with having a 5 who can’t shoot the 3, but a 3 has to be knock down, and Demin is a question mark there

I continually fall back to Fleming. Long 4 with good defense and 3 ball. Moves Buzelis to 3. Immediate impact since we are not tanking. Relegates P Will to a bench role more suitable for him. Fleming is becoming set in stone the longer I look at our options. Coward I think is a steal too after looking at him all day.

[LateNight]

Totally disagree. Demin and Giddey can’t coexist. They are the same player. Might be the only player we literally cannot draft.

Top Tier: Maluach/Queen
Mid Tier: Fleming/Bryant/Newell/Wolf
Bottom Tier: Sorber/CMB/Essengue

Quite a few people had this reaction, so I'll clarify my why I think they can. To me, I suspect Demin will settle in as a wing/point forward in the NBA. I don't see him being the primary facilitator, but more as a secondary one. I think there's something really fun about a lineup consisting of Giddey, Demin, and Matas -- three very tall, lengthy, versatile, and skilled guys. I like the potential ball movement, but what I really like is that it's three guys that just have a feel for the game. I think that's what you want in "Billy Ball". A free-flowing fast pace offense needs guys who are smart passers, and can create fast breaks and Giddey/Demin do that both with their passing and with their disruptive length. I love the mismatch potential of two jumbo guards in the backcourt. I also thought this team looked really good in the brief moments we saw Giddey and Ball together. So I do think they can co-exist.

Fair analysis, albeit flawed in my humble opinion.

2 major concerns:

1: Defense from a Giddey/Coby/Demin line up
2. Sacrificing both PG and SF 3 point shooting is too much in today’s age. I’m OK with having a 5 who can’t shoot the 3, but a 3 has to be knock down, and Demin is a question mark there

I continually fall back to Fleming. Long 4 with good defense and 3 ball. Moves Buzelis to 3. Immediate impact since we are not tanking. Relegates P Will to a bench role more suitable for him. Fleming is becoming set in stone the longer I look at our options. Coward I think is a steal too after looking at him all day.

Why do you have Fleming over Bryant?

[LateNight]

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[League Circles]

Idk about Sorber. Talent wise he's on the cusp for me at around the 12th-15th guy I'd want in this draft for the Bulls, but the foot scares me off. That said he has long term starting potential at C.

I think I like Maluach and Joan Beringer more than him.

[DuckIII]

The hell? Collin Murray-Boyles is NOT the best defensive prospect in this draft. That's Cooper Flagg. Edgecombe is great defensively, too. That scout sounds like an idiot.

So he’s the third best?

[League Circles]

Can Carter Bryant guard the 2 position? If so I think he's a lock for my top 12.

In no particular order:

Flagg
Harper
Bailey
Edgecomb
Johnson
Maluach
CMB
Essengue
Bryant
Beringer

Then I'm thinking about these guys for the final spots:

Kasparus
Fleming
Sorber
Not sure who else. Unfortunately I don't think most of these guys have much of a chance at any kind of stardom, and I admit I'm drafting more for need now than I usually would, but these are the crop of guys I like.

[DuckIII]

Well, I do still think he’s a fine prospect at 12 and this doesn’t scare me off. But that strike is not fine. It’s crappy both in fundamentals and in natural fluidity.

I think almost anyone talented enough to reach the NBA can become passable three point shooter. I’m not suggesting he can’t. But there are numerous problems with this 3 ball.

Ive watched him a ton, this just isn't accurate

What part?

I’m also curious.

[burlydee]

The more I look into the draft, the more I think Fleming and Coward are the type of prospects I'm mad that the Thunder and Griz find. Neither guy has crazy upside but you can easily see how they can become star role players. I'm leaning Coward because upside is higher but Queen, Sorber Coward and Fleming really stood out to me today. Getting more confident Bulls can find a guy at 12.

[BullsSD]

Quite a few people had this reaction, so I'll clarify my why I think they can. To me, I suspect Demin will settle in as a wing/point forward in the NBA. I don't see him being the primary facilitator, but more as a secondary one. I think there's something really fun about a lineup consisting of Giddey, Demin, and Matas -- three very tall, lengthy, versatile, and skilled guys. I like the potential ball movement, but what I really like is that it's three guys that just have a feel for the game. I think that's what you want in "Billy Ball". A free-flowing fast pace offense needs guys who are smart passers, and can create fast breaks and Giddey/Demin do that both with their passing and with their disruptive length. I love the mismatch potential of two jumbo guards in the backcourt. I also thought this team looked really good in the brief moments we saw Giddey and Ball together. So I do think they can co-exist.

Fair analysis, albeit flawed in my humble opinion.

2 major concerns:

1: Defense from a Giddey/Coby/Demin line up
2. Sacrificing both PG and SF 3 point shooting is too much in today’s age. I’m OK with having a 5 who can’t shoot the 3, but a 3 has to be knock down, and Demin is a question mark there

I continually fall back to Fleming. Long 4 with good defense and 3 ball. Moves Buzelis to 3. Immediate impact since we are not tanking. Relegates P Will to a bench role more suitable for him. Fleming is becoming set in stone the longer I look at our options. Coward I think is a steal too after looking at him all day.

Why do you have Fleming over Bryant?

Although I disagree Bryant is PWill or Terry all over again, it has similar hallmarks. Athletic with potential but unproven.

We can’t waste this pick with the possibility we never get lower than this again on our run for contention. In my opinion, Fleming who’s older, yet still in line with Giddey, can fill needs and impact both sides better than Bryant.

It also keeps Buzelis at 3, which I think he will excel at. Buz has the speed and handles and shooting for the 3 spot, and with his height and finishing ability he should punish opposing 3’s on both end.

Fleming has a 9 foot wing span. Pair that with Buzelis at 6’10 and two long guards, I like what we are cooking with for a year. Vastly different team:
Giddey/White/Buzelis/Fleming/[Collins/Smith/FA]

If we figure out center, we have a monster long lineup that is athletic and can shoot from all over. If Flem pans out like Naz Reid and Buzelis takes off, we are a center away from being a second round playoff team (5th or 6th seed winning in 5-7 games) with the potential of landing a star to take us over the hump.

[leo921]

some of our realistic targets at 12

CMB - Draymond type of defensive 4
Essengue - young atheltic high flyer at 6'9 playing in Europe. If we get him I worry Billy wont play him enough to help develop him
Carter Bryant - 3 and D wing. keep improving shot and handle and can be good
Fleming - 6'9 PF strong defender can hit 3s.
Lendborg - 6'9 PF dont know much about him but hearing good things

[Guru]

Newell and CMB seem like the hottest names at 12

[2weekswithpay]

Can Carter Bryant guard the 2 position? If so I think he's a lock for my top 12.

In no particular order:

Flagg
Harper
Bailey
Edgecomb
Johnson
Maluach
CMB
Essengue
Bryant
Beringer

Then I'm thinking about these guys for the final spots:

Kasparus
Fleming
Sorber
Not sure who else. Unfortunately I don't think most of these guys have much of a chance at any kind of stardom, and I admit I'm drafting more for need now than I usually would, but these are the crop of guys I like.

He can guard 2s, but he isn't the best at navigating screens and can struggle with quick changes in direction IMO.

[Andi Obst]

The hell? Collin Murray-Boyles is NOT the best defensive prospect in this draft. That's Cooper Flagg. Edgecombe is great defensively, too. That scout sounds like an idiot.

So he’s the third best?

CMB is way better on the defensive end than VJ at this point IMO. Obviously completely different roles, but impact-wise CMB is way ahead right now.